The Castle of Chinchilla (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

: Castillo de Chinchilla) is a castle located in

Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón Chinchillas are either of two species (''Chinchilla chinchilla'' and ''Chinchilla lanigera'') of crepuscular rodents of the parvorder Caviomorpha. They are slightly larger and more robust than ground squirrels, and are native to the Andes moun ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It was declared

Bien de Interés Cultural A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the heritage register in Spain. The term is also used in Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries. The term literally means a "good of cultural interest" (" goods" in the economic sense) and incl ...

in 1931. As of right now you may only have access to see the exterior of the castle as the interior is under construction. When visiting the castle you can see the remains of Iberian and Roman architecture.

Description

The Castle of Chinchilla, known by Muslims as Ghenghalet, is a castle built upon an Arab fortification in the 18th century. Hired by the Marquis of Villena,

Juan Pacheco Juan Pacheco, 1st Duke of Escalona (1419 – 1 October 1474), better known as Juan Pacheco, Marquess of Villena, was a Castilian noble of Portuguese descent who rose to power in the last years of the reign of Juan II of Castile and came to d ...

built the castle with many influences from multiple cultures of architecture (fortified). The castle was built by masonry walls that are 10 meters wide and 6 meters deep. The architecture has Arab influences, including elbow entrances, albarrana towers, and underground galleries with intakes of water. It includes a moat that is 16 meters deep, and many towers including one of great infamy, Torre del Homenaje.

History (Important Years)

1242: Re-conquered from the Muslims, led by the Commander of Ucles, Pelayo Pérez Correa, with an army formed by Christians from the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. End of the 13th century: Important buildings appear such as the convent of San Juan of the Dominican order, the Church of El Salvador and that of Santa María in the current Plaza de La Mancha. 14th century: Chinchilla became part of the Señorío de Villena under the mandate of Don Juan Manuel. 1422: Appointment of Chinchilla as a city by King Juan II 1448: Beginning of the construction of the current castle in this year by Juan Pacheco 1504: Cesar Borgia imprisoned in Tower of Tribute 1576: Evidence of the construction by Juan Pacheco can be found in the coat of arms on the walls and in a topographical survey from 1576 which states: “This tower, fortifications and moat were made by the Marquis of Villena”. 1812: The castle suffered interior and exterior damages by the French troops during the Independence war 1900: The city council wanted to turn the castle into a prison causing to remove all remaining interior that was left behind by the French troops 1973: The town council got the castle back and destroyed the prison which was abandoned for 27 years (Fortified)

Locations

Chinchilla de Montearagón Chinchilla de Montearagón or Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón, or simply Chinchilla ( ar, جنجالة), is a municipality in the province of Albacete in Castile-La Mancha, Spain. Spreading across a total area of , the municipality has population of ...

Important People

Cesar Borgia Cesare Borgia (; ca-valencia, Cèsar Borja ; es, link=no, César Borja ; 13 September 1475 – 12 March 1507) was an Italian ex- cardinal and '' condottiero'' (mercenary leader) of Aragonese (Spanish) origin, whose fight for power was a major ...

Marquis of Villena King Juan II

Don Juan Manuel Don Juan Manuel (5 May 128213 June 1348) was a Spanish medieval writer, nephew of Alfonso X of Castile, son of Manuel of Castile and Beatrice of Savoy. He inherited from his father the great Lordship of Villena, receiving the titles of Lord, D ...

Bibliography

* Ayuntamiento de chinchilla de montearagón - castillo. Ayuntamiento de Chinchilla de Montearagón - Castillo. * Chinchilla de montearagón castle in Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón: Spain.info in English. Spain.info * Fortified Castle of Chinchilla de Montearagón. Spain Heritage Network. * Spain is culture. Monuments in Albacete, Spain: Castillo de Chinchilla de Monte Aragon. Cultural tourism in Castile la Mancha, Spain. * Visit castle of chinchilla de montearagn: TCLM. Visit Castle of Chinchilla de Montearagn , TCLM.

References

{{reflist Ayuntamiento de chinchilla de montearagón - castillo. Ayuntamiento de Chinchilla de Montearagón - Castillo. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://www.webchinchilla.com/turismo/patrimonio/castillo/ Chinchilla de montearagón castle in Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón: Spain.info in English. Spain.info. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://www.spain.info/en/places-of-interest/chinchilla-montearagon-castle/ Fortified Castle of Chinchilla de Montearagón. Spain Heritage Network. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://www.spainheritagenetwork.com/en/castillos/fortified-castle-of-chinchilla-de-montearagon Spain is culture. Monuments in Albacete, Spain: Castillo de Chinchilla de Monte Aragon. Cultural tourism in Castile la Mancha, Spain. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from http://www.spainisculture.com/en/monumentos/albacete/castillo_de_chinchilla_de_montearagon.html Visit castle of chinchilla de montearagn: TCLM. Visit Castle of Chinchilla de Montearagn , TCLM. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2022, from http://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/castillo-de-chinchilla-de-montearagon-24664/descripcion/ Castles in Castilla–La Mancha Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Albacete